14 minute read
TECHNOLOGY
The tools you need to work and play hard.
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A C5-6 quad who lives in Michigan, Mike Franz has a degree in political science and a paralegal certification from Oakland University. He is a freelance writer and dedicated fan of the Detroit Lions, Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings.
MAKING TECHNOLOGY Work For YOU
BY MICHAEL FRANZ
I’ve been fascinated by technology my entire life. I’m the guy who needs to read about and buy all the new gadgets as soon they are available. After my spinal cord injury, technology took on an entirely new role for me. I was still interested in all of the new stuff, but now I wanted to find ways that it could make my life easier.
My first experience with how technology could help me in my post-SCI journey occurred while I was still in the hospital following my accident. I was 16 years old and planning on returning to school about a month after discharge. The thought of going back to my classes was daunting for many reasons, including figuring out how I would get my work done. I could barely turn a page in a book — how was I going to be able to put my thoughts and answers on paper?
DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING
Dragon NaturallySpeaking is voice recognition software that works with Windows computers and allows the user to type using only their voice. It is the first piece of technology I recommend to someone who is newly injured, as it can be their key to regaining independence, completing school, finding a job, or simply posting on social media. With so much of the world being digital, it is important to find a way to be able to participate, and Dragon allows anybody to join in.
The technology specialists in my rehab’s engineering department introduced me to Dragon. The first editions were relatively slow, inaccurate and somewhat frustrating to use. It took several hours to train the computer to learn my voice and for me to dictate effectively. For those who have never used dictation software, it can be challenging to learn how to speak what you would normally write or type. Fortunately, over the years, computers have gotten more powerful, and Dragon has gotten faster and more accurate. Now when I dictate, the words appear almost instantaneously, and most of the errors that occur are typically my fault instead of the computer’s.
Dragon has made so many things possible for me personally, academically and professionally. I have used it to write everything from short emails to 30-page term papers, and without it
ABILITIES EXPO Available from Abilities Expo 323/363-2099 or abilities.com
Featured annually in eight North American cities, the free, three-day Expos provide the disability community with access to the latest products, cutting-edge tech, resources, informative workshops and adaptive activities like sports, dance, service dogs demos and so much more. Abilities live events and online resources are designed to help individuals with disabilities increase their independence and push their limits. MOUNT’N MOVER MOUNTING SYSTEMS Available from BlueSky Designs 612/724-7002 or mountnmover.com
The Mount’n Mover movable mounting systems offer unique features specifically designed to promote independence and access. Mount phones, trays, speech devices, laptops and cameras on wheelchairs, tables and more. From simple mounting solutions to our motorized Pow!r mount for complex needs — do more with a mount that moves!
E-Z PULL DOOR CLOSER Available from Swervin Earl Productions Inc. 941/456-0815 or e-zpulldoor.com
An assistive device that allows wheelchair, walker and scooter users to close a door behind them when the doorknob is out of reach. Easy to install. Made from clear polycarbonate, so it blends in with any decor. Invented and produced by a T9 para vet! GIRAFFE BOTTLE Available from Giraffe Bottle 630/922-5010 or store.giraffebottle.com
The Giraffe Bottle Hands-Free Drinking System allows users with various abilities to stay hydrated. The system is designed to be flexible and easy to use. The solution is great for desks, wheelchairs, beds, tables and more. Helps people with disabilities, injuries or other conditions including cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis.
this article would have taken much longer to complete. The standard version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking is available for $150 at shop.nuance.com.
XBOX ADAPTIVE CONTROLLER
Gaming is an activity that people of all ability levels can participate in and have fun doing. Whether someone is looking for a new hobby or trying to find a way to play again after their injury, the Xbox Adaptive Controller opens the world of video games to everybody.
I loved video games as a kid, and gaming was one of the things I missed the most after my injury. I tried to use some of the first sip-and-puff controllers but could never get the hang of them and quickly gave up. As I gained more strength and movement in my arms, I tried arcade-style joysticks with varying degrees of success, but none ever allowed me to play what I wanted anywhere near as well as I wanted. Gaming became something I thought I would never fully enjoy again.
When Microsoft introduced the Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018, I knew it would be a game changer for me and many others with disabilities, as it provides a foundation for gamers to customize a controller to suit any need they may have. The base controller is built with 19 3.5 mm jacks that can be connected to a wide variety of thirdparty devices that allow the gamer to play. Whether the player needs large or small buttons, different sized joysticks, or unique arrangements to accommodate strength or mobility differences, nearly anything is possible.
In addition to the versatility in how it can be customized, the Xbox Adaptive Controller works with a variety of platforms. Although it is officially meant to pair with the Xbox and PC, there are adapters that allow it to be used with Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. I was able to hack my controller for the Nintendo Switch so I could play the most recent edition of the Legend of Zelda — my favorite game series — which I had not been able to play for almost 20 years.
Video games and esports offer many opportunities for disabled gamers to join online communities and compete with peers or simply have fun with their friends and family. Disabled gamers have both joined and formed professional esports teams as well as competed individually and found success in tournaments. Personally, I have spent many hours playing games online with my dad and siblings, especially since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Although there have been times when I have probably spent too much time playing a game, I am beyond happy to have the opportunity to do so.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is available from Microsoft and various retailers for $99.99.
SMART HOME DEVICES
A lot of things have changed over the
course of the past two decades when it
Franz writes using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
JAMB HANDLE Available from ALBS Products 951/309-9292 or albsproducts.com
The Jamb Handle is a new door hardware design that enables the closing of doors from the opposite side of the door frame with little effort and reduces the risk of falling or banging up the door while trying to pull it closed behind you. LUCI Available from LUCI 800/621-5824 or luci.com
LUCI is the first true smart technology accessory for power wheelchairs. By adding hardware and software to riders’ new and existing power chairs, LUCI enables wheelchairs to “see” their environment and prevent tips, collisions and falls before they happen. The result is unparalleled stability, security and connectivity.
MODULAR METAL MOUNTING ARM KIT Available from MOGO Mounts 630/922-5005 or mogomounts.com
The Modular Metal Mounting Kit from MOGO Mounts provides a rigid arm support system that is perfect for wheelchair or powerchair device mounting. The flexible joints lock arm-segments into place and the modular metal system is perfect for medium-weight applications, such as tablets or small AAC devices. Shown with tablet holder and pro clamp, sold separately. MODULARHOSE 12” PHONE HOLDER Available from ModularHose, 630/922-5005 or modularhose.com/assistive-technology
The ModularHose Arm with Phone Holder is flexible and fits most phones with or without a case. Designed for devices 2.25” to 4” wide. The flexible arm can be adjusted and the length can be easily customized by adding and removing ModularHose pieces. Plus, the arm is compatible with a variety of ModularHose accessories.
KEEPMVN WHEELCHAIR MOBILE APP Available from University of Pittsburgh 412/392-7374 or upmc-sci.pitt.edu/keepmvn
The University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury has developed a free mobile app for your smartphone or tablet that allows you to record and track wheelchair breakdowns and repairs, as well as the distance traveled in your wheelchair. You may also be eligible to use the app as part of a research study and receive compensation.
CRT ADVOCACY Available from NCART 716/839-9728 or ncart.us
NCART is a national non-profit association of suppliers and manufacturers of Complex Rehab Technology. The organization works to ensure that federal, state, and private coverage and reimbursement policies allow individuals with significant disabilities to have adequate access to the specialized and individually-configured CRT products and supporting services they depend on. Visit www.ncart.us for more information.. comes to technology. One area where this is especially true is the evolution of smart home technology. When I was newly injured in the early 2000s, smart home technology as we know it was still many years away. I had experimented
with environmental control units, but they were expensive, and although they were sophisticated for the time, they were quite limited in what they could do. I never imagined that there would soon be a day when I could independently control virtually every piece of electronic equipment in my house using my voice or smart phone.
Amazon Echo was released in March 2014, and I ordered one the first day it was available. The device that would soon be known colloquially as Alexa became the centerpiece of
WIRELESS PLANS Available from Walmart Family Mobile 877/440-9758 or myfamilymobile.com/why/service-plans
Walmart Family Mobile makes it easy to stay ahead with plans starting at $24.88 per month. Choose from accessible Android and iOS phones, or bring your current phone with you and keep your phone number. With no contracts or activation fees, Walmart Family Mobile is the best way to stay connected.
a growing network of smart home devices that would make difficult tasks easy and impossible tasks possible once more. Using voice commands, I can control any compatible device from almost anywhere in my house. The days of needing to ask for help to adjust the thermostat or turn on a light were over.
One of the best smart home devices that I have purchased is the Nest Thermostat. It can be controlled either with Alexa or through the Nest app on my iPhone. For anyone with a spinal cord injury who struggles with regulating their temperature like I do, a smart thermostat is a priceless investment. After a short period, the thermostat learned my routine and how I adjust the temperature throughout the day. For example, in the colder months, the thermostat automatically turns the furnace on around 7:30 in the morning so it is warm enough for me to do my bowel program and shower. Nest also allows me to change the temperature from anywhere in the house. It may be hard to understand the importance of temperature control when your temperature regulates itself normally, but being able to control the thermostat has greatly improved my quality of life.
Much like controlling a thermostat, turning a light on or off is something most people take for granted. Before smart switches and smart plugs were available, there were countless times when I was lying in bed and needed someone to flip the switch for me. Now, with devices like the Leviton Smart Switch, and the wide variety of smart plugs on the market, it is simple to control everything from ceiling lights to desk lamps. Adding a smart switch or a smart plug is a cheap and easy way to make one’s home safer and more accessible.
Building out a network of smart home devices is both fun and a good way to rediscover independence. The beauty of smart home devices is that they are relatively affordable and can be purchased one at a time or all at once. Anyone looking to build a new home or modify an existing one should consider making their living space smart.
Smart home devices are manufactured by many companies and can be found at retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart.
Disclaimer - The Food and Drug Administration has not yet evaluated this product.
*Artistic Rendering Awarded Multiple Patents in the USA and Europe ZCATH DESIGN FEATURES:
The patented ZCATH catheter is a revolutionary intermittent urinary catheter with a molded open tip and a single entrance opening, which eliminates eyelets.
The opening design. has a smooth bulbous
Rounded smooth scallops reduce body contact and provide grooves for lubricant.
The entire catheter inside and out. is molded
Bladder
Trigone
2020 Publisher’s Statement
New Mobility (USPS 1086-4741) is published by United Spinal Association, 120-34 Queens Boulevard, Suite 320, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Number of issues published annually: 12. The General business offices of the Publisher are located at United Spinal Association, 120-34 Queens Boulevard, Suite 320, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Annual subscription price is $27.95. The names and addresses of the Editor and Managing Editor are: Ian Ruder, Editor; Josie Byzek, Managing Editor: United Spinal Association, 120-34 Queens Boulevard, Suite 320, Kew Gardens, NY 11415. Extent and Nature of Circulation: “Average” figures denote the average number of copies printed each issue during preceding 12 months. “Actual” figures denote the number of copies of the single issue published nearest to filing date. Total number of copies printed: average 9,113; actual 9,508. Total paid and/ or requested distribution: average 6,510; actual 7,039. Total non-requested distribution: average 2,603; actual 2,469. Total distribution: average 9,113; actual 9,508. Copies not distributed: average 0; actual 0. Internal Sphincter Bladder Opening
External Sphincter
Cross-section view of interior and exterior scallops of Zcath's revolutionary design.
CONTACT US
www.zcath.com Toll 844-ZEE-CATH Free 844 - 933 - 2284 E-mail: info@zcath.com
The opening at the top allows the catheter to be located at the lowest part of the bladder.
Visit www . zcath . com for videos and more information . For SAMPLES , when they become available or to receive a call from Philip Dye , the Inventor and Founder of Zcath , Call 844 - ZSAMPLE ( 844 - 972 - 6753 ).
